NFL Rumors: Titans Offering Peyton Manning Contract for Life Is Smart Move

Well, NFL free agency has officially gotten bizarre—Bud Adams and the Tennessee Titans have offered Peyton Manning a contract for life.

And not only is it allowed in the NFL if done properly, it actually makes a lot of sense. The rumor comes from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

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Titans owner Bud Adams has offered Peyton Manning a contract “for life.”  As crazy as it sounds in the salary-cap era, it can happen.

Per a source with knowledge of the league’s procedures, Manning and the Titans would be required to sign two contracts:  one for the work as player, and one for the job as a non-player.  The second job would have to be a “real job,” and the wages for the second job would have to represent fair market value.  Manning would have to actually perform the duties of the job after his playing career ends.

Also, the entire arrangement would require league approval.

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Michael Lombardi and Jason La Confora were talking on the NFL Network yesterday about how Manning wants to remain in the game of football in a coaching or organizational capacity after he retires, which seems to fall in line with his personality.

And what better way to do ensure he can do so than with a lifetime contract?

Seeing as he is basically an offensive coordinator on the field already, it doesn't seem all that risky for the Titans to tie themselves to him in the future—it's probably a safe bet that he'll be a good coach.

It might frustrate him down the line if a quarterback he is coaching can't make the reads or throws he did, but it's hard to imagine Manning wouldn't be a brilliant X's and O's guy.

And there is always the chance that Manning won't be interested in the lifetime contract, but will be impressed enough with Tennessee's commitment to him that he'll sign a standard contract with the team.

It's bizarre. It's risky. It's out-of-the-box thinking.

It's the sort of move that would solidify this offseason as the craziest, most exciting free-agency period in NFL history.

I love it. We'll see if Manning does as well.

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